Updated 9/23/2025: After the Planning Commission meeting on September 11, the Costa Verde proposal heads to City Council on October 20. When available, the October City Council agenda will be posted at: https://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/officialdocs/legisdocs/brown-act
At the Planning Commission meeting on September 11, the Costa Verde agenda Item 2 was moved to the Consent Agenda as there was no opposition received from either the community or from the commissioners to the project proposal. The Commissioners accepted the Staff Report and analysis and recommendation that the City Council approve the project. This project will likely come before City Council in October. The Staff Report to the Planning Commission, with project description and recommendation, is available with the September 11 agenda at: https://www.sandiego.gov/
Update 9/6/2025 re Costa Verde property: Following up on one of the items from the May UCPG planning group meeting, the new Costa Verde re-imagined mixed-use project will come before the Planning Commission on Thursday, September 11. The in-person location of the Planning Commission has changed to the Development Services office at 7650 Mission Valley Road. It is also possible to view the meeting remotely via Zoom and offer public comment if that is more convenient. For more information about the September 11 Planning Commission meeting, see agenda ITEM 2: 8610 GENESEE AVENUE – PROJECT NO. 1121151, agenda at: https://www.sandiego.gov/
planning-commission/documents/ agenda
May 18, 2025: Summarized by UCCA’s Diane Ahern based on the May 2025 UCPG meeting; published 05/18/2025: The former Costa Verde Center property is approximately 14 acres, located at 8610 Genesee Ave at the corner of Genesee and Nobel. As presented at the May 2025 planning group meeting, developers with Cass Street Company have a vision for Reimagining Costa Verde to create a new neighborhood that includes both housing and community serving spaces.
- Housing would include a diverse mix of for-sale, market-rate, affordable, and student homes; a potential boutique hotel; homes that are walkable to major transit and jobs; with the latest advanced sustainability measures.
- Community serving features would include a vibrant hub with diverse uses and experiences; grocery, pharmacy, restaurants, cafés, and shopping; neighborhood conveniences and entertainment; public plazas, gardens and groves; as well as street level patios and sidewalks.
At its May meeting, the UCPG heard and voted on an Action Item (Item 12) to support the Cass Street Company request to (1) rescind the entitlements from the prior 1986 Costa Verde Specific Plan as modified in 2020; and (2) to support an updated parcel map with 13 parcels that represent the projected locations for future development on the site.
The Zoom recording of the Costa Verde Reimagined presentation is available on UCCA’s site at: universitycitynews.org/UCCA/UCPGMay2025
The Reimagining Costa Verde project proposal is a Process Five which means the project proposal will be heard later this year by the San Diego Planning Commission and the Land Use and Housing Committee, with a final decision by the City Council.
According to UCPG Chair Chris Nielsen, the developers welcome ideas and feedback on all aspects of their proposal. Area residents who have suggestions for the Reimagined Costa Verde property can reach the developers through spokesperson Ashley Johnson by email at: ajohnson@swspr.com
- For related posts, visit: https://www.universitycitynews.org/?s=costa+verde
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Video update 6/13/2025 from CBS 8; text report available here: What’s Going On with the Costa Verde Center
Update 05/29/2025 from the San Diego Union Tribune:
Costa Verde Center owner wants to turn shuttered strip mall into its own neighborhood
